You'll Hear It: Full Album Deep Dives with Jazz Musicians
Peter Martin & Adam Maness
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Peter Martin & Adam Maness
▶ WebplayerThe best hang in music. Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down the greatest albums of all time, track-by-track. Like Thriller, Kid A, Songs In the Key of Life, Aja, and Voodoo. They use their deep knowledge of music theory to uncover the hidden qualities that make music work - harmony, groove, composition and production - while demonstrating at the keys and playing isolated stems. Then, watch them perform their favorite track with our in-house band: One shot, one take. You'll never hear music the same way again. A video podcast from Open Studio, the #1 online jazz education...
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Sep 28, 2026 · 1:13:27
Even if you don't recognize his name, you've heard his sound. Jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove played trumpet on, and contributed arrangements to, D'Angelo's Voodoo, Common's Like…
Sep 21, 2026 · 59:09
Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin dig into the You'll Hear It mailbag, answering your questions and checking out the tunes you always wanted them to hear. Plus, a trivia…
Sep 14, 2026 · 1:23:03
D'Angelo's Black Messiah is one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. You can hear his musical influences all over it: Prince's arrangements, the Bee Gees' falsettos, Jimi…
Sep 7, 2026 · 55:48
Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin play each other their favorite Ahmad Jamal tunes to build the ULTIMATE Ahmad Jamal playlist. Learn to play tracks from You'll Hear It.…
Aug 24, 2026 · 35:21
Waltz for Debby is the sound that all "boring coffeehouse jazz" tries to imitate, but none can replicate. Featuring Bill Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on…
Aug 17, 2026 · 38:18
Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin take turns playing each other songs, and the goal is to get the biggest involuntary reaction out of the other guy. Along the way, they…
Aug 10, 2026 · 58:01
Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack Radiohead's 2007 masterpiece 'In Rainbows', track-by-track. Hear about the harmonies, odd time signatures, Thom Yorke's singing…
Aug 7, 2026 · 22:04
New albums all hand-picked from jazz pianist Adam Maness for your listening pleasure. 00:00 - Intro 01:51- Epiphanie - Domi & JD Beck…
Aug 3, 2026 · 43:31
Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life is all killer, no filler. Every track is a masterpiece. It's almost TOO easy for two jazz pianists in the business of reviewing history's…
Jul 28, 2026 · 1:01
You'll Hear It is a weekly listening party for people who love music ... a little too much. Every Monday, Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin sit down with one great album…
Jul 6, 2026 · 1:13:05
Adam and Peter break down Prince and the Revolution's Purple Rain, the 1984 soundtrack that turned him into a global superstar. They go track by track, from "Let's Go Crazy" to…
Jul 3, 2026 · 18:42
Our Top Picks of new jazz and jazz-adjacent releases from June 2026!
Jun 29, 2026 · 1:05:36
Weather Report's Heavy Weather became one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. But there's so much more to it than "Birdland", Heavy Weather's radio hit. In fact, Peter…
Jun 15, 2026 · 59:56
With her 1974 masterpiece Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell transforms from folk singer into something harder to define. Her piano playing matures. Her songwriting blossoms into one…
Jun 8, 2026 · 22:02
Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter Martin review their three favorite songs from Michael Jackson's most iconic albums: Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall. And their choices aren't…
Jun 1, 2026 · 23:51
Adam Maness brings you the freshest releases of May 2026! 0:00 Intro 0:50 Jeff Parker https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/happy-today 3:45 Greg Hutchinson…
May 29, 2026 · 49:59
Sonny Rollins passed away this week at 95. Jazz pianists Peter and Adam are listening through the recordings that defined his career and made him one of the most influential…
May 25, 2026 · 1:26:04
Miles Davis's Kind of Blue is one of the greatest albums of all time - possibly THE greatest. But it's not perfect. In this special episode of You'll Hear It, jazz pianists Peter…
May 18, 2026 · 59:46
Herbie Hancock's Thrust (1974) is one of the most influential jazz-funk records ever made. Peter Martin and Adam Maness break down the full album, track-by-track: Mike Clark's…
May 11, 2026 · 52:36
Could Parliament be the most important band of the 1970s? Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down Parliament's 1975 masterpiece Mothership Connection…
May 7, 2026 · 18:55
Join Adam Maness as he delves into the best new music released in April 2026 (ish). This month we're featuring the incredible microtonal Angine de Poitrine and many more!
May 4, 2026 · 1:00:51
YHI + McBride = Ray Charles?! Christian McBride - bassist, Grammy winner and one of the greatest musical minds working today - joins Adam and Peter on You'll Hear It to share his…
Apr 27, 2026 · 1:38:39
Check out Adam’s course for more on Kid A and the harmony of Radiohead: https://osjazz.link/radiohead You've never heard Kid A like THIS. Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter…
Apr 20, 2026 · 1:11:41
Cookin', Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin' capture Miles Davis on one of music history's most remarkable upswings. He had recently become clean after a years-long heroin addiction…
Apr 13, 2026 · 1:07:12
Marvin Gaye's I Want You could be one of his greatest albums, and he didn't even write it. Producer Leon Ware wrote most of the songs for himself. Marvin Gaye was only supposed…
Apr 6, 2026 · 59:24
Buena Vista Social Club: The album so good it's life-affirming. And it almost didn't happen. In 1996, an American musician landed in Cuba to record a music project with Malian…
Mar 30, 2026 · 1:12:29
What happens when you put three of jazz's biggest personalities in a studio for a day? You get Money Jungle: Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach. Can it work? Miles…
Mar 27, 2026 · 25:11
We're looking at the best jazz releases of March 2026! Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks. Start your free Open Studio trial for…
Mar 23, 2026 · 1:06:16
Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington: The musicians on this album were already legends when it came out in 1955. Each of them completely reinvented how people play their…
Mar 16, 2026 · 1:35:53
D'Angelo's Brown Sugar sounded like nothing else in 1995. R&B was slick, polished, and built for clubs. D'Angelo later said the "deeper consciousness" had gone out of…
Mar 9, 2026 · 49:52
Ornette Coleman's The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) may be the most controversial album in jazz history, and one of the most important. In 1959, a broke musician from Fort Worth,…
Mar 2, 2026 · 1:38:35
Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin dive into Music of My Mind, track-by-track, listening to isolated stems and breaking down the music theory behind the songs. Plus - we…
Feb 27, 2026 · 18:05
We're looking at the best jazz releases of February 2026! Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks. Start your free Open Studio trial…
Feb 23, 2026 · 1:16:12
Charlie Parker was punk rock before there was punk rock. His bebop was underground music: subversive, intellectual, and a major departure from popular music of the day (think:…
Feb 16, 2026 · 1:25:07
Is Steely Dan's Gaucho more perfect than Aja? Maybe even ... too perfect? Two years in the studio. The greatest session musicians alive asked to play take after take after take…
Feb 9, 2026 · 1:19:35
The Impossible follow-up: Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. Five years after Thriller changed everything, Michael returned with a record that would become one of the best-selling…
Feb 2, 2026 · 1:26:47
Carole King’s Tapestry is so cozy, you'll want to hug it; sit with it. It sounds simple, warm, and totally unassuming. But it’s way more impressive than it seems at first. Adam…
Jan 31, 2026 · 20:18
We're looking at the best jazz releases of January 2026! Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks. Start your free Open Studio trial for…
Dec 29, 2025 · 35:07
We're looking back at the best jazz releases of 2025. Listen with pianist Adam Maness as he breaks down and reacts to these great tracks. This is a new segment from the team…
Dec 26, 2025 · 30:35
What does it really mean to live a musical life? As we look ahead to 2026, Adam and Peter talk about music as a way of being. Not a checklist, or a finish line, or something…
Dec 22, 2025 · 1:29:42
Prince's Sign O' the Times is one of our most requested albums at You'll Hear It. But, there is a certain window of millennial that doesn't really "get" Prince. If that’s you,…
Dec 15, 2025 · 1:03:37
Could this be peak Frank? Sinatra at the Sands captures the energy, the cool, and the incredible voice that made this crooner so iconic. Backed by the Count Basie Orchestra with…
Dec 8, 2025 · 1:26:39
How much do you know about Peter Martin? In this conversation with Kirk Hamilton of the Strong Songs podcast, Peter shares his musical influences and trajectory as a young jazz…
Dec 1, 2025 · 1:03:40
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was one of the BIGGEST records of the 90s. When you sell 20 million records, like Lauryn Hill did, you're into mass market territory; you're…
Nov 24, 2025 · 1:14:27
Keith Jarrett's "The Köln Concert" is the best selling solo piano album of all time. But why this album? Possibly because it sounded like nothing else in popular music at the…
Nov 17, 2025 · 1:49:22
Songs in the Key of Life stands apart, even next to the other four albums in Stevie Wonder's classic period. It resulted in the most hit singles: "I Wish", "Sir Duke", "As" and…
Nov 10, 2025 · 1:13:28
1959 gave us Kind of Blue, Time Out ... and Mingus Ah Um. Adam and Peter dig into Charles Mingus’s most adventurous, soulful record: gospel, bebop, and pure Mingus genius. You’ve…
Nov 3, 2025 · 1:08:37
At Town Hall captures a pivotal moment in Nina Simone's story, when she left behind her dream of being a concert pianist and embraced her identity as an indefinable and…
Oct 27, 2025 · 1:20:10
In 1981, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones set out on one of the most ambitious projects in pop music history: an album where every song was a hit. The result was Thriller. The…
Oct 20, 2025 · 1:18:33
In light of D'Angelo's passing, we're replaying our episode on Voodoo from June 2025 . This Grammy-winning, genre-defying album changed the sound of R&B, soul, and hip-hop…
Oct 13, 2025 · 1:35:08
Hip hop wouldn’t sound the same without jazz. From A Tribe Called Quest to PinkPantheress, jazz provides the groove behind of some of the most iconic tracks of the genre. Diallo…
Oct 6, 2025 · 1:21:48
The RH Factor’s Hard Groove might sound uncontroversial to modern ears, but in the early 2000s it was revolutionary. With this record, Roy Hargrove broke away from the…
Sep 29, 2025 · 1:06:44
Joni Mitchell’s Blue , a folk masterpiece, has inspired jazz musicians since its release in 1971. Is it because she sings like a horn player? Her improvisational melodies? Her…
Sep 22, 2025 · 1:14:02
John Coltrane's A Love Supreme: Some call it the greatest album of the 20th century. Others say it isn't even Coltrane's best album ... of 1965. No matter where you think it sits…
Sep 15, 2025 · 53:10
We're talking jazz influences in hip hop today with Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding from Switched On Pop . We dig into tracks from Kendrick Lamar (there's that TPAB acronym!),…
Sep 8, 2025 · 1:28:51
We’re diving back into Stevie Wonder with Innervisions, right in the heart of his classic period from 1972 to 1976. There’s something magical about this stretch of music history,…
Sep 1, 2025 · 1:11:41
There is no more important relationship in this era of music than that of Miles Davis and John Coltrane; two masters ever-present in the musical and cultural landscape. Someday…
Aug 25, 2025 · 56:43
When does Afro Blue and Smells Like Teen Spirit belong on the same record? When it's a Robert Glasper album! In 2012, Glasper's Black Radio brought together artists like Erykah…
Aug 18, 2025 · 52:19
Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is undoubtedly one of the best pop rock albums ever. But the story behind its creation reads like a soap opera. Everyone -- Stevie Nicks, Lindsey…
Aug 11, 2025 · 59:52
Today we're going on an aquatic journey with Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage. Herbie calls the title track the best tune he's ever written. We dive deep into the music to explore…
Aug 4, 2025 · 1:38:11
Broken Record's Justin Richmond joins us to talk Still Crazy After All These Years. Paul Simon's Grammy-winning album was born out of divorce, and produced some of his greatest…
Jul 21, 2025 · 55:16
We turn our own categories back on ourselves! We're looking back on the past 20 epiosdes, which we're calling You'll Hear It Season 12, and ask: - What are our apex moments? -…
Jul 14, 2025 · 1:08:31
The ultimate musical showdown: jazz vs classical. We bring in conductor Josh Weilerstein from the Sticky Notes podcast to compare, contrast and find the common ground among these…
Jul 7, 2025 · 1:01:16
John Coltrane’s Giant Steps isn’t just a jazz classic — it’s a rite of passage. Peter Martin and Adam Maness dig into what makes the album so technically punishing and…
Jun 30, 2025 · 33:06
We’re sitting down with one of the greats! Organist Larry Goldings is in the house to spin the B3 tracks that shaped him – from Jimmy Smith’s revolutionary runs to Billy…
Jun 23, 2025 · 1:16:41
We’re finally digging into “Voodoo” - D’Angelo’s Grammy-winning album that changed the sound of R&B, soul, and hip-hop forever. And the album a young Adam Maness had on repeat,…
Jun 16, 2025 · 1:16:11
You can’t deliver a performance like Shirley Horn’s “Here’s to Life” unless you’ve lived a little – or a lot. It’s an album only an artist with decades of love, loss, and…
Jun 9, 2025 · 1:21:58
For the first time ever, we’re digging into an album Peter actually played on. In this episode, we go deep on Spirit of the Moment, saxophonist Joshua Redman’s 1995 double-CD…
Jun 2, 2025 · 1:14:14
Before Kind of Blue, a 21-year-old Miles Davis was already reshaping jazz with Birth of the Cool. In this episode, we explore how Miles teamed up with arranger Gil Evans and a…
May 26, 2025 · 1:36:41
Learn what makes Marvin Gaye’s protest album a timeless masterpiece. Adam and Peter go deeper than deep—layer by layer—using stems to find out. Listen to the full arrangement in…
May 19, 2025 · 1:09:51
We hand the mic to Kirk Hamilton from the Strong Songs podcast to help us break down the groovy 1973 self-titled release: Tower of Power. We unpack what makes this Oakland funk…
May 12, 2025 · 1:07:10
Stack a DX7, a keytar, and enough rack-mount synths to power a small city, and you get one of the most iconic – and polarizing – jazz fusion albums of the ’80s. This week, we…
May 5, 2025 · 41:19
Who swings harder: Oscar Peterson with guitar or drums? In this jazz piano trio showdown, Adam and Peter go head-to-head with seven scorching tracks spanning OP’s career. Team…
Apr 28, 2025 · 1:19:26
What happens when a 21-year-old Stevie Wonder gets the keys to the Motown kingdom? You get Talking Book, a no-filler masterpiece. Adam and Peter go track-by-track through…
Apr 21, 2025 · 1:03:00
One afternoon in Oslo changed the course of jazz piano history! In this episode, Adam and Peter dive into Facing You, the hit 1971 ECM release where a 26-year-old Keith Jarrett –…
Apr 14, 2025 · 56:29
Does it get any better than that ARP bass line on “Chameleon”? That’s right, it’s Herbie time! Join Peter and Adam as we explore Herbie Hancock’s explosive breakout from Blue…
Apr 7, 2025 · 1:23:18
Take a trip with us to the most revolutionary decade in jazz (1923-1933), when a young Louis Armstrong was creating a new improvisational vocabulary in real-time. This isn’t the…
Mar 31, 2025 · 1:05:26
Tune in as we pay tribute to the incomparable Roberta Flack, who we sadly lost last month. From her 1969 debut album First Take (featuring Open Studio artist Ron Carter on bass)…
Mar 24, 2025 · 37:13
Could Miles Davis’ peak performance come alongside a bunch of kids who weren’t even getting paid? In this episode, Peter and Adam dive into one of the greatest live albums ever…
Mar 17, 2025 · 59:08
When Epic Records told Michael Jackson “no” to Quincy Jones, he fought back and changed music forever. Join Adam Maness and Peter Martin as they dive into Jackson’s 1979…
Mar 10, 2025 · 47:13
Can you believe the most celebrated Bill Evans Trio was only together for 18 months? In this episode, we’re looking at early 60's Bill alongside Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, and…
Mar 3, 2025 · 52:55
What makes New Orleans funk hit so different? In this episode, we dive into the swampy funk of The Meters, the iconic quartet that’s left its mark on everything from Wu-Tang to…
Feb 24, 2025 · 39:26
Have Giant Steps and Meditations scared you away from John Coltrane? Join us on the other side of the Trane tracks with what might be the best trio of albums ever dropped in the…
Feb 17, 2025 · 55:23
Has Brad Mehldau always been one step ahead of jazz? In this episode, Peter and Adam trace his evolution from the straight-ahead Art of the Trio series to the produced, cinematic…
Feb 10, 2025 · 45:38
From the hypnotic grooves of “Black Cow” to contributions from jazz legends Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, and Victor Feldman, Steely Dan’s 1977 masterpiece Aja reigns amongst the…
Dec 30, 2024 · 45:05
In this very special cross-over episode, Adam Maness and Bob DeBoo from Upright Citizens check out 12 of their favorite live albums recorded at the famous Village Vanguard.…
Dec 23, 2024 · 47:10
In this solo episode, Peter Martin gives advice on how to live a musical life in the coming year and what to do to set yourself up for success. Looking to drop a question? Want…
Dec 16, 2024 · 26:54
Adam and Peter list their favorite tunes that actually teach ya something! Learning these tunes will give you a better grasp on your playing in these contexts. Check out our…
Dec 12, 2024 · 31:00
Ever get overwhelmed with emotion from a tune? In this episode, Adam and Peter talk about what about music can evoke such emotion. Link to our Spotify Playlist Looking to drop a…
Dec 9, 2024 · 1:03:40
Join us as we dive into the life and legacy of Art Tatum, the jazz piano virtuoso who took entertainment on the instrument to a new level. YT playlist •…
Dec 5, 2024 · 31:41
Do you ever find yourself lacking on a little holiday cheer? Do the holiday classics seem a little drab and dull lately? Well you may not be alone - Check out Peter and Adam's…
Dec 2, 2024 · 48:34
Peter and Adam both name their 7 favorite GAS standards from best to worst. What's your favorite GAS standard? Link to our bespoke Spotify playlist.…
Nov 28, 2024 · 51:50
Black Friday is upon us! Go to https://openstudiojazz.com/blackfriday for our biggest savings of the year. Think you can teach somebody a lesson in 60 seconds? Join Adam and…
Nov 25, 2024 · 36:06
What's on your playlist? Join Adam and Peter as they hang and share some music they've been inspired by lately. Our Spotify Playlist Unlock your FREE Open Studio trial to become…
Nov 21, 2024 · 41:17
Roy Haynes! The greatest to ever do it - join us as we remember the life and legacy of one of the true legends of Jazz history. Reaching Fourth - McCoy Tyner Coltrane Quartet…
Nov 18, 2024 · 27:26
Adam and Peter reluctantly wade into the tired old 'Who Killed Jazz?' debate... Unlock your FREE Open Studio trial to become a better player today. Looking to drop a question?…
Nov 13, 2024 · 39:46
Lou Donaldson, November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024 We honor the late, great Lou Donaldson who created new pathways for generations of Jazz musicians to come. Everything I Play…
Nov 4, 2024 · 26:00
Adam and Peter dive into some of the greatest tracks by the incredible Charlie Haden. Our Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0j2izk6G8ZzBhEK7yf2W2r?si=olxr53YgQUSp…
Oct 28, 2024 · 1:05:13
Peter and Adam check out Night Train by Oscar Peterson. This legendary trio shaped musicians for years to come. How did this album effect you? Unlock your FREE Open Studio trial…
Oct 21, 2024 · 39:07
Adam and Peter talk about what it takes to communicate on the bandstand non-verbally and how to best approach situations when you don't know your bandmates very well. Unlock your…
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